The US Supreme Court has ruled against former President Donald Trump's claim of immunity from prosecution, stating that while former presidents are protected from prosecution for their official actions, they are not shielded from liability for unofficial actions.
In a landmark 6-3 decision on Monday, the court did not define what constitutes an official versus unofficial act, leaving that determination to lower courts to apply specifically to Trump's case.
Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, criticized Trump's expansive interpretation of presidential immunity, stating, "Trump asserts a far broader immunity than the limited one we have recognized." The decision was supported by the court's conservative justices, while the liberal justices dissented.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a strongly worded dissent, criticized the majority's decision, saying it grants former presidents unwarranted criminal immunity and undermines the foundational principle that no one is above the law.
The ruling means further delays before Trump could potentially stand trial in the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, effectively postponing any trial until after the upcoming election in November. If Trump does not win re-election in 2024, the trial could proceed thereafter.
The case revolves around allegations that Trump unlawfully attempted to influence the outcome of the 2020 election, among other charges he faces in federal court. Trump has also recently been convicted in New York on multiple counts related to falsifying business records.
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